Mail-carrier mechanism



Sept. 25, 1928. 1,685,593

1.. AUBLE' v MAIL CARRIER MECHANISM Filed July 11, 192'? 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Sept. 25, 192 8.

UNITED STATES 1,685,593 PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE AUBLE, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGiNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO CHARLOTTE E. MCCARTHY AND ONE-THIRD TO KARL F. KAPFF, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

MAIL-CARRIER MECHANiSM.

Application filed July 11,

This invention relates to devices for speedily transporting parcels, packages or letters, and objects of this invention are to provide a motor driven carrier device having a selfcontained motor unit, and which is capable of traveling at a high'rate of speed; to provide a simple and efiicient device of the above character having a single propelling element which mity be driven by a motor arranged in close juxtaposition thereto; to provide a carrier system occupying a minimum amount of space, which is capable of developing a high rate of speed and having a small and compact driving unit; and to provide a device of the above character having the new and improved features of construction and arrangement hereinafter described.

The invention is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Fig. 1 is atop plan view partly in section of my improved article transporting device; Fig. 2 is a section substantially on the line I 22 of Fig. 1, and 3 is a'section substantially on the line 33 ofFig. 1.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a tube or cylinder 1 having a hollow bore and provided on the inside thereof with a plurality of continuous spiral grooves 52, in this instance there being three. These grooves form a track for a purpose hereinafter described, and under somecircumstances it may be desirable instead of employing a tube to provide separate spiral tracks. It is to be understood that while three grooves 01' tracks 2 are illustrated that this number may be varied as desired withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

Extending longitudinally of the tube 1 ar grooves or tracks 3 which are arranged in opposed relation. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the tracks 3 extend deeper int-o'the tube 1 than do the spiral tracksQ, and as shown, particularly in Fig. 3 the longitudinal tracks 3 cross the spiral tracks 2, as will be understood.

A propeller is provided with a hub 4 having radially extending tubular arms 5 in which rods 5 are slidable, being forced outwardly into engagement with the spiral tracks 2 by coil springs 5 Rotatable on the ends of the rods 5 are rollers 6 which ride crosswise in the tracks. that by rotating the propeller, the same will It will be seen 1927. Serial No. 204,825.

move in one direction or the other along the inside of the tube l-in accordance with the direction of rotation.

The propeller is driven by means of a shaft 7 which constitutes the shaft of the motor 8 which is arranged in relatively close juxtaposition to the propeller; The motor; 8 is completely enclosed by means of :1 casing 9 and projecting laterally from the casing 9 in opposed relation are arms 10 in the outer ends of which are journalled'rollers 11. The rollers 11 ridein the longitudinal tracks 3 and it will thusbe seen that by means of the motor 8 the propell'eris rotated and the motor is held from the rotation by means of the rollers 11 engaging the sides of the track Bymeans of this arrangement enormous speed can be developed because of the relatively slight-amount of friction between the spiral track and rollers.

The motor 8 is electrically connected to the rollers 11 by means of leads 12 and the rollers 11 ride on strips 13 which are insulated from the tube 1 by insulation strips 14. The strips 13 may be electrically charged from any suitable source, so when the rollers llare in contact with the strips 13 the motor 8 is concomitantly energized. V

The articles or packages may be hauled by the above described driving unit in cylindrical containers 15 which may be connected to the rear end of the motor casing 9 by a pivotally mounted link 10. The container may be provided with oppositely positioned rollers 16 which are likewise arranged to ride in the grooves or tracks 3. The rollers 16 may be mounted on laterally extending arms 17 projecting from the sides of the containers. It will be understood that any suitable number of these containers may be employed depending on the number of articles to be transported.

The above described device isparticularly useful in connection with the transportation of mail where speedy service is an essential requirement. A tube such as heretofore described may connect the main postoffice with substations, and as soon as the struction and arrangement the course of travel delivery from the central station delivery could be almost'instantaneous. By employing a system of switches a single tube length may be providedwith branches and the control may be centrally located so that the carrier could be dispatched to any desired location.

While the above is given by way of illustration as one embodiment of the invention, itis not to be understood as of limitation, because nnmerouschanges in details of conmay be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention,,especially as defined in the appended claims. a 7

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination of a spiral track, opposed longitudinal tracks, a rotary propeller having a part loosely mounted in said spiral track, motor vmeans for rotating said propeller,andopposed means in fixed relation to said motor means and loosely disposed in said longitudinal tracks.

' 2. The combination of a spiral track, a propeller having a roller disposed in said spiral track, motor means for driving said a propeller, opposed longitudinal tracks and roller means mounted in fixed relation on opposed portions of said motor means and disposed in said longitudinal tracks.

'3. The combination of a plurality of spiral tracks, a propeller having a plurality of .arms carrying rollers at their outer ends engaging said tracks, a motor 'for, driving said'propeller, opposed longitudinal tracks, and arms in fixed relation to said motor and having rollers engaging said opposed longitudinal tracks. 7

' 4. The combination of a spiral track, a

propeller having an arm provided with a roller engaging said spiral track, a motor for driving said propeller, a longitudinal track, and an arm projecting from said n otor carrying a roller engaging said longitudinal track.

5, The-combination of a plurality of spaced spiral tracks, a propeller having arms carrying rollers at their outer ends engaging said spiral tracks, an electric motor directly connected to said propeller, a longitudinal electrically charged track, an arm projecting from said motor carrying a roller at its outer end in electrical contact with said longitudinal track for energizing said motor.

6. The combination of a plurality of spiral tracks, a propeller having radially extending arms carrying rollers engaging said spiral tracks, an electrical motor having its shaft directly connected with said propeller, arms projecting from opposite sides of said motor carrying rollers at their outer end, opposed longitudinal electrically charged tracks with which said last mentioned rollers engage, and means for electrically con,- nect-ing said rollers with said motor.

7. The combination with a tube of a plurality of spiral tracks on the inside thereof, opposed longitudinal tracks on the inside of said tube, a propeller having radially extending arms carrying rollers engageable with said spiral tracks, as electric motor having its shaft directly connected with said propeller, arms in fixed relation to said motor and extending in opposite directions and carrying rollers engageable with said longitudinal tracks. i 3

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my nameto this specification.

LAlVRENCE AUBLE, 

